It’s Here! A Pet Friendly Guide to SXSW

Pet Friendly Tips for SXSW 2014

SXSW, one of the biggest and brightest tech-film-music gatherings in the world, takes over Austin, TX for a fun and crazy week each March. The event kicks off tomorrow, March 7 and runs through March 16, and since we're based in Austin we'd like to offer a little hospitality (and general good advice) for all you pet lovers who will be checking out the conference and festivities.

Enjoy this info, and have a great week, everyone!

Where to bring your dog

Austin is notoriously dog friendly, and there are a variety of parks, restaurants and hang-out spots that will welcome four-legged friends with open arms. Here are a few of our favorite places:

Redbud Isle is one of the most popular off-leash dog parks in the city and makes a great escape from the hubbub of downtown

Up north a bit, Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park is another great off-leash choice for adventurous pet families wanting to get some exercise and fresh air

Closer to downtown, try Norwood Estate. It's not quite as scenic as some of the other parks, but it has a large off-leash area and is conveniently located in the Travis Heights neighborhood just off Town Lake Trail.

Where not to bring your dog

If you're attending any panels or shows during SXSW, it's best to leave pets at home. Downtown absorbs the impact of thousands of people, making it a loud and not-so-ideal place for even well socialized dogs. Stick to the above mentioned parks and restaurants and avoid the Convention Center area if you have a pup in tow.

Where to hang out with other pet lovers

Each year there are usually several official and unofficial pet lover meet-ups during SXSW. For example (!), this year we're excited to be hosting a #PuppyHour along with GoBank, Austin Pets Alive! and Barkbox, where we'll be adopting out puppies and discussing pets and pet relocations with anyone who wants to stop by. You're coming, right? RSVP here.

Official SXSW events to attend

If you're attending the Interactive conference and are interested in pets, the pet industry, internet trends or all of the above, there are a few panels worth checking out: